Oklahoma man faces federal charges over suspicious mailings to officials

Federal prosecutors have charged an Oklahoma man with sending hundreds of letters containing white powder to public officials in the lead-up to the 2024 and 2026 elections. Robin Martin was arrested Monday and was scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. He faces charges of conveying a hoax and mailing threatening communications.

The FBI identified the substances in the letters as yeast or flour, though the agency noted that not every item has undergone full testing. Court filings made public Tuesday detail that investigators believe more than 700 mailings originated from the same sender. FBI agent David Cole stated in an affidavit that the packages were addressed to election officials, members of Congress, pollsters, news media, and federal law enforcement personnel.

The investigation traces back to 2024, when election officials in every state reported receiving mail containing a white substance. Each package included a three-page letter declaring war on the recipients. The sender used the return address U.S.T.E.A., or United States Traitor Elimination Army, located in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Last month, federal authorities announced an active probe into mailings with suspicious substances sent to congressional and election offices nationwide. Officials urged recipients to treat the items as potentially hazardous. The concern led to the evacuation of election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma in October.

Numerous states, including Idaho and Florida, confirmed that their election offices either received the letters or had them intercepted by the Postal Service. A recurring message in both the 2024 and 2026 mailings warned recipients of upcoming arrests for treason or worse. Online court records did not list an attorney for Martin to comment on his behalf.